Too Long

too long since i last posted; lots of news\events\changes

1) single again and cuter than ever -- YIPPEE!

2) lil' sis, aunt & uncle visited me in Japan -- YIPPEE!

3) folks in 2) helped me pack and haul everything back to the States -- YIPPEE! (soooo much thanks to them - i couldn't have survived without their support and encouragement! xoxoxo)

4) survived all 3 flights back to Tejas -- YIPPEE!

5) met (or will meet) lots and lots of old friends from ES\JHS\HS -- YIPPEE!

6) enjoyed a wonderful mini-reunion for my dad's side of the family and got to reconnect with relatives I haven't seen for 10 years or so -- YIPPEE!

7) currently suffering from reverse culture shock, sorta -- YIPPEE!?

reverse culture shock is what i want to talk about right now. i've felt it before, but never this strong. it's not like i want to hop the next plane back to japan -- i'm very glad to be back home but i feel like a foreigner here sometimes. the feeling is already starting to go away, but at first it was really strange. and funny, of course.

here are some thoughts\comments:

public toilets - gross; not many doors have hooks on them to hold my purse; paper towels are nice to see again; disgusting

the word "toilet" - so many times, i have asked waiters or clerks where the "toilet" is and one guy told me "that's a funny way to ask for it - there's restroom, bathroom, ladies room..." -- how embarrassing! i guess that is kinda rude of me but in japanese, they use "toire" and i'm just used to it

dolla' bills y'all- it's all the same color! and crumpled! i always take a long time to pay for stuff because i have to get my bills sorted and straightened out and check twice to make sure the amount is correct and i just feel like a big oaf

da peeps - i like to see the variety of skin\hair\eye colors as well as all the differently-sized people; i'm in Texas so most of the people i interact with at shops and restaurants are very friendly but still it's no match for Japanese customer service

da rides - so DAMN BIG! i stayed in the Houston area for the first few days and EVERY DAY i saw a different Hummer or mini-Hummer or whatever; each one was a different color and one day i saw 3 - maybe 4 - in a matter of a few hours; my opinion on those particular vehicles, or on any gas-guzzling maxi-car, doesn't really matter -- they are simply EVERYWHERE! now i'm in Austin at my sister's place and i'm so glad to be around loads of pedestrians and public buses!

OK, that's enough for now; to all my friends back in Japan reading this -- HELLO! i'll get in touch soon, as soon as i get outta Tejas and into Virginia; take care and enjoy the upcoming Golden Week!

XOXO
amy